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Wednesday, September 28, 2005

"Purpose Determines Priorities"

"You, however, know all about … my purpose" (from 2 Timothy 3:10).

I heard a great message yesterday in a chapel service at a local Christian high school. The speaker was challenging the young people to follow Christ in a special week of commitment services.  He repeated an expression for emphasis that really states a truth, "Purpose Determines Priorities" and also a corollary truth that "priorities reflect purpose."

One of the greatest needs we all have in life is purpose. Many aimlessly drift throughout their lives with little sense of direction or purpose. As a young Christian I learned to share my faith using a booklet called "The Four Spiritual Laws" which begins with the phrase, "God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life." Of course plan can equally be understood as purpose and truly God has a purpose for each one of us.

2 Timothy is considered the last letter that Paul wrote. In today's verse he lists a number of personal characteristics that Timothy had observed and knew all about. Paul demonstrated these characteristics in his life and thus was known by them.

Among them was "my purpose."  The word means a plan or a resolve, denoting that a decision has been made. Another reference states this purpose to be, "the guiding motive of his life and work."

God has a purpose for each of us. There are aspects of this purpose common to all of us who follow Christ. Although we may not all choose to word it the same way, it would be very similar to my "personal mission statement". This could also be called my "personal purpose statement".  It reads, "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and I make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and to prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."

But I believe God has also specifically gifted each of us for the unique purpose He has for our life. This purpose varies depending on the gifts and callings God has granted us. In Acts 12:36 we read, "When David had served God's purpose in his own generation."  My goal is to serve God's purpose for my life in my generation.

Let me ask you to consider several questions today.
  • Do you know your main purpose in life?
  • Do the people who know you clearly observe you living by your purpose?
  • Do your priorities in life reflect this purpose?


Be encouraged today,


Stephen C. Weber

Brooksyne's Prayer – Your purpose in my life, Lord, is seen in a multitude of ways; whether it is in my vocational training; in the way I raise my children; in the relationships I engender or in the way I use my gifts to touch other lives.  But Your purpose in my life is most visible in my response to heartache, betrayal, disappointment, suffering, and loss.  Your purpose can be seen when I choose not to repay evil for evil, but rather good for evil.  Lord, as I keep Your purpose for my life always before me I will remember that much good spiritual fruit can be developed in me in the ups and downs I encounter today.  May I be faithful in making choices today that reflect Your purpose in my life.  It is by Your grace I pray these things and it is in the name that is above all names, Jesus.



Update on Mom – Those that regularly read this series may recall that my 84 year old Mom lives with us. In August she had a real setback that required an eleven day hospitalization. She was in very poor shape when we brought her home and we provided her care similar to a nursing home. She really didn't appear to be improving much. But this Monday morning we noticed a real breakthrough and since then she has done much better. Yesterday she had her monthly appointment with the specialist following her illness and she came through with a good report. She has a couple other appointments this week but we hope that she will soon be able to get out some and attend church and the senior center.



Yard sale
This last weekend we had a yard sale at our home sponsored by our youth group for hurricane victims. Ester and a friend initially thought of a garage sale for raising money.  Our young people and their very dedicated leaders took on the task (along with some willing volunteers.) It was great to see Ester have this sense of purpose in helping others!



The full text of the daily verse is: "You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance" (2 Timothy 3:10). I intentionally highlighted just the characteristic "my purpose" for today's message.

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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission; and the King James Version.

Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and I make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and to prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."

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